Transcripts of conference calls with Tennessee's Jeff Fisher and Kerry Collins on Wednesday morning:
HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER
On DT Albert Haynesworth…
Albert does a nice job up front with disruption and defending the run as well as being able to put pressure on the passer. It depends when he'll be involved in drawing double-teams, which will create other opportunities for his teammates.
On if the talk of being undefeated is unavoidable in Nashville…
We don't deal with it. We're pleased, but our focus is on the next game. That's the players' approach and that's the reason we're at where we're at right now, because we've been able to take a one-game-at-a-time approach.
On people saying they're better off taking a loss to minimize the pressure of being undefeated…
Everybody is entitled to their opinions.
On if he sees a difference in the Jets with QB Brett Favre…
The team is a lot different. There are a lot of new faces there. There's a great deal of experience. Brett has done a tremendous job under center. That speaks for himself. They're just a much better team. They're playing with a great deal of confidence, they're scoring a lot of points and playing really good defense.
On being the NFL's longest-tenured head coach…
Every year is a new challenge for me and I look forward to coming to work. We're no different here – players, coaches, staff. We're just about taking it one week at a time. That's been our approach.
On if he is surprised at this year's success or if he saw indicators during training camp…
I think we had a solid year last year. We've been building. We made it to the playoffs but were a little shorthanded because of injuries. We regrouped and stayed focused throughout the off-season and had a great training camp. I had high expectations coming in and we all realize that it's very difficult to win in the National Football League. It all flips right back to the one-week-at-a-time approach.
On the Jets' pass rush and their even sack distribution…
They do a nice job with the scheme. Most three-man-line schemes have been great at variations and combinations of people. They create situations where they get mismatches on backs, and in addition to that, they're very, very talented up front and they can win one-on-ones. They're disciplined rushing. They stay in their lanes and then they collapse the pocket. Those sacks are a byproduct of the defense. The secondary is playing well. They're taking things away and making the quarterback hold the football.
On the offensive line's ability to protect QB Kerry Collins…
It's been important for us. We're proud of how they've done thus far. We just have to continue and I think this will be one of our bigger challenges.
On if he's impressed with the way that Collins has been able to step-in and run the offense…
I'm not impressed at all. We obviously knew Kerry had the abilities. He has experience and has a good feel for what we're doing. We need to protect him to run the football. He's in position to make a lot of plays and he's been doing that for us lately.
On the Collins vs. Brett Favre matchup…
I think it'll be a great matchup. Some people have tagged this as it's going to end up being a shootout. You never know. I think it'll be a great matchup. Both quarterbacks are capable of making plays. I think it'll be one that a lot of people are going to want to watch.
QB KERRY COLLINS
On the Titans' offensive line…
The protection has been as good with this group as any that I've been around. They're a good offensive line. It's going to be a big challenge this week with [Kris] Jenkins and their pass rush. It's going to be a challenge for us. We're going to have to come ready to play.
On what he sees from the Jets' pass rush…
They get off the ball extremely well. They get a good push in the middle. They have very good edge rushers. It forces you to be sound in the pocket and be able to move around a little bit because they are good at creating edges and getting pressure on the quarterback.
On how much fun this season has been…
It's been fun. I don't take too much time to stop and think about it and enjoy it. There's always work to be done. We're certainly aware of the start we've gotten off to. It's just hard to stop and enjoy any of it because there is a new and bigger challenge that comes every week.
On if there were times he worried he would not be a starting QB in the NFL again…
Yes. I was in a backup role and it was hard to think that I was going to get the opportunity to play and start week in and week out. When I did get the opportunity I tried to take advantage of it the best that I could, embraced it and relished the opportunity to be out there and starting under center.
On how he is different player now than when he first started in the NFL…
Overall, I make better decisions. As a young guy I made my share of mistakes. With maturity comes better decision-making. That is what all quarterbacks strive for is to lean on their experience and hopefully to continue to make better decisions as their career goes on.
On what the Titans have asked of him on the field…
Managing the game is definitely part of it. [But] you can't go through an NFL season without having to make plays. That's in every game. I try to make the best decisions that I can, not turn the ball over — which is one of the best things that we've done as an offense, limit the turnovers. If that's managing the game and it helps us win, then so be it.
On if this season in Tennessee is similar to his time with the Giants…
I don't think so. So much of that was personal rejuvenation. This is more about a career and on-field rejuvenation. I'm trying to make better decisions on the field. I feel like I've done that for a long time. That part of it was an issue back then but is not really an issue now.
On if he admires what QB Kurt Warner is doing in Arizona…
Absolutely. As an older quarterback it's nice to see all the older guys to well. Kurt is lighting it up like he did for the Rams in 1998 and '99. He's playing great and still has all the physical tools. He's delivering the ball as effectively as he ever had.
On if it's an insult that people are not considering the Titans to go undefeated…
We're not paying a whole lot of attention to what everyone is saying. One thing that this team has done well is focus in on the task at hand. We have a big test this week. We're not thinking anything past trying to win this Sunday. It's going to be a big test for us.
On how he felt when people thought his best days as a starter had passed…
Day in and day out, I haven't felt that I was any different from a skill set, I haven't lost my skills. I stayed confident in myself and my abilities and kept believing in myself. That's part of what allows you to be successful: belief. People are going to say what they say. There's nothing that I can do about that. I kept believing in myself and tried to be patient and if I did get another opportunity, take advantage of it the best that I could.
On facing Favre…
I'm worried about what we're doing. Brett and the things he's done this year under tough circumstances, everything that happened in the summer, coming in and handling things the way he did and what he's doing on the field, isn't a surprise. He's a great player, one of the best players to ever play the position. He's going to come in here ready to play. We'll have to be ready ourselves. He's a guy that I've admired for a long time and I'm glad to see him do the things he's doing.
On if he sees similarities between the 2008 Titans and the 2000 Giants…
There are similarities in that our defense is very, very good. With the Giants we had a stellar defense as well. We might have been a little more explosive on offense with the Giants in 2000. I feel like we're getting better every week from an operational standpoint on offense. We're doing what it takes to win. That's the most important thing.
On if his time with the Giants seems like a long time ago…
It seems like a long time ago. Every experience that you have, when you're successful, when you're not successful, every experience in the NFL if you use it as a positive, a learning tool or something you can carry with you, that benefits yourself. It was a long time ago, but I won't forget what it took for us to be successful that year and I will carry that with me throughout the rest of my career.
On if his preparation has changed over time…
No. My approach is pretty much the same. I play as well as I can on Sunday and prepare well — get the game plan down and try to execute as best as I can on Sunday. That's what I've always tried to do.
On DT Kris Jenkins…
He has a combination of size, strength and quickness that very few have. He's been an extremely disruptive force. We understand the challenges going against a guy like that. It's going to be a big test. The guy's making play after play. He's playing at a high level.
On if having a teammate like DT Albert Haynesworth helps him prepare for Jenkins…
They are very similar. We have some veteran guys up front who played against several guys that have that kind of ability. Albert and him being very similar, they all know what to expect. It's going to be a big challenge for us.
